Neospora Isn’t Gone. So Why Aren’t We Talking About It?

Neospora caninum remains a significant cause of reproductive and economic losses in cattle despite declining industry awareness. A 2025 University of Minnesota study found only 29% of surveyed producers had heard of Neospora, although researchers detected exposure on every participating farm and found overall cattle seroprevalence of 20.9%.

The parasite primarily persists through congenital transmission from infected cows to their offspring and can cause abortion, early fetal loss, reduced milk production, increased culling, and poorer beef cattle performance. Global dairy and beef losses are estimated at nearly $1.3 billion annually, including approximately $657 million in the United States.

UC Davis professor emeritus Dr. Mark Thurmond believes modern reproductive technologies offer new opportunities for control. Strategic testing, prioritizing Neospora-negative replacement females, sexed semen, beef-on-dairy breeding, and embryo transfer could gradually reduce infected bloodlines. Biosecurity measures that prevent dogs and coyotes from contaminating feed or consuming placentas and aborted fetuses also remain important.